What are the primary goals that this home must fulfill? In other words why are you building this home? What must this home accomplish to be of value to you and your family?

What activities should this home be built around? Don't just look at pictures of what you want the house to look like. Get a clear mental picture of yourself engaged in the activities that you want this home to accommodate. This is a great time to start making notes, gather and take photos, and walk through as many log homes as you can.

Your new home is certain to appreciate in value over time (doubtless more rapidly than conventional homes). Still, as with any project, you must be comfortable with the amount you invest in your home. Establishing a budget early on is important. Your design/build consultant will help you complete a brief study that they'll use to establish:

• Size
• Style
• Amenities
• Target Cost (Ballpark pricing)

If you don't already have a building site then this is the time to obtain land. It's never too early to start gathering ideas but you should obtain land before you finalize a set of plans as the home must fit the build site. A site survey, percolation test and/or soil evaluation test may be required to obtain septic and building permits.

Based on what you want in the house, based on how you defined for your lifestyle, we now start putting form to the function.

What have you seen that you liked-photos, plans, design ideas, etc? Be sure to consider any specific furniture that you want to fit in you new home. Looking at the many plans available from our plan archives can be a big help here, as they offer many innovative ideas. We'll use your ideas and direction to develop a personalized floor plan that matches your lifestyle, activities, and ideas.

As the plan develops, our designers will start adding the architectural details you want. Be prepared, this is that stage where unlimited imagination meets finite budget, so compromises generally need to be made. Your Design/Build Consultant will make sure that everything you truly want in your home is included ... without breaking the budget! A design deposit, depending upon the size of your project will be required to get this phase started. ($1.00 per square foot-refundable with your purchase of a Golden Eagle package valued at $50,000.00 or more).

After your floor plans are drawn for you, odds are pretty good you will see your home in a different light and you may need a few changes. You are able to make up to 50 revisions to the floor plans without paying any additional plan fee costs.

Once we have a set of preliminary plans that define the major elements of the home, we're ready to begin assembling bids and pricing for materials and construction. Your Design/Build Consultant will handle that for you, or will assist you in getting those prices. Based on interviews, experiences and prices, you'll choose the final building team that will make your new home a reality.

Now is the time for any tweaking or last minute changes. You will work with a final selections specialist to go over details of your kitchen, select your bathroom fixtures, stain colors, etc. You may want to talk to an interior designer to discuss interior and exterior lighting options. Once the plans are finalized, firm construction bids and pricing are obtained and construction agreements are ready to be signed.

If the home will be financed, submit the plans and bids to one or more lenders. The bank or mortgage company will hire an appraiser, whom will give them an idea of what the home, finished and including property will be worth on the retail market. That figure will be used to determine your mortgage loan amount. A construction loan will then be issued which will convert to the permanent mortgage when the home is complete.

Logs and structural elements, windows and doors, and other major components can now be ordered. A deposit will be due for most orders, which will be covered by a draw from the construction loan.

Final plans and engineering details, along with required soil tests, will be submitted by the builder to obtain all necessary permits. Once building permits are issued, applications will be sent to the utility companies, and you're ready to begin site preparation.

Clearing the lot, putting in the driveway, installing temporary electric hook-up, staking out exact location for the home, and digging the footings or basement are completed. The well and septic system, if applicable, are installed.

The foundation (slab, crawl space or basement) is put in and the structural materials for the home (floors, walls, roof, windows and doors) are installed. Porches, decks, garages and carports may be installed at this time.

Electrical, wiring, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and structured wiring (cable, telephone, computers, etc.) are installed. The fireplace and chimney, patios, and any exterior concrete work are constructed or installed.

Here's where your home really begins to take shape inside. Wall coverings (dry wall and/or wood depending upon your choices) are installed and readied for paint and stain. Outside the porches, decks, fascia and trim are completed. Finish grading is performed at this time, either seed or sod for the lawn is put down, and landscaping is installed. Exterior stains and coatings are applied and the outside of your home is finished.

Back inside the interior doors and trim are installed and the painting and staining is completed. Finished flooring and tile are installed as are cabinets and vanities and stairways. Cabinets are measured for final fitting and countertops are ordered.

Plumbing and lighting fixtures are installed at this phase, and water and HV AC are on and operable. The home is almost finished.

The final driveway materials are installed and the landscaping is finished outside. Inside, window and door hardware, closet shelving, countertops, and appliances are installed and working. The cleaning crew comes in to make sure your home is pristine and ready to move into, and you and your builder do one final walk-through to make sure there are no items left undone.

The final step is your occupancy permit which allows you to take possession of the home. You're now officially ready to move into your beautiful new home.

The new furnishings have been delivered, your new home is decorated, and your family is visiting you for a long weekend. As the fire crackles and the family converses: you think back- your new home has fulfilled its goals, and you think forward- to all of the memories yet to be made...